Ileodictyon cibarium
Basket fungus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Fungi
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Division: | |
Class: | |
Order: | |
Family: | |
Genus: | |
Species: | I. cibarium
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Binomial name | |
Ileodictyon cibarium Tul. (1844)
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Ileodictyon cibarium![]() | |
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![]() | glebal hymenium |
![]() | no distinct cap |
![]() | hymenium attachment is irregular or not applicable |
![]() | lacks a stipe |
![]() | spore print is olive-brown |
![]() | ecology is saprotrophic |
![]() | edibility: edible, but unpalatable |
Ileodictyon cibarium is a saprobic species of fungus in the family Phallaceae. It is found in Australia,[1] New Zealand and South Africa, where it commonly known as the basket fungus or the white basket fungus, alluding to the fruiting bodies, that are shaped like a round or oval ball with interlaced or latticed branches. Although the immature volvae are edible, the mature fruit body is foul-smelling and covered with a slime layer containing spores on the inner surfaces.
The Māori people had 35 different names referring to I. cibarium. These included tutae kehua ("ghost droppings"), tūtae whatitiri, and whareatua ("house of the devil"), kōkirikiriwhetū, kōpurawhetū, korokorowhetū, wheterau, popowhaitiri, tikowhatitiri, paruwhatitiri, matakupenga, and tūtae whetū. Several of the names refer to Whaitiri, the atua and personification of thunder, this is because of I. cibarium fruiting bodies' appearances following thunderstorms.[2][3]
In a 2018 poll, I. cibarium was ranked second by Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research for its pick as New Zealand's national fungus, being defeated by Entoloma hochstetteri.[4]
Description[]
Prior to the opening of the volva, the fruit body is egg-shaped, and white to grayish in color. After opening, it is a whitish ball of meshes.
Habitat[]
I. cibarium grows alone or clustered together near woody debris, in lawns, gardens, and cultivated soil.
Edibility[]
The immature volvae are edible but unappealing. Consuming the gleba and the white basket portion of the fungus have been known to lead to sickness.[5]
References[]
- ^ "Ileodictyon cibarium". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 2017-06-16.
- ^ "tūtae whetū - Māori Dictionary". maoridictionary.co.nz. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- ^ Pallante, Joseph (19 July 2020). "The Alienness of White Basket Fungus". NZFungi. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ "New Zealand's favourite fungus has been revealed". RNZ. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- ^ Glynn, Angela Prain, Lizzy. "Ghost Droppings". Raglan Area School Community. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
External links[]
- Phallales
- Fungi described in 1844
- Fungi of New Zealand
- Fungi of Australia
- Taxa named by Edmond Tulasne